Roof vent cover

ABSTRACT

A roof vent cover for spherical roof vents, made of hard vinyl construction, and two congruous pieces. The pieces cover the bulb and exterior shaft of the roof vent, and are affixed to one another by screws and wing nuts.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] Due to the lack of ventilation in most attic and upper crawlspaces in buildings, a standard solution of many builders is a roof ventthat can help with intake of air and to allow hot air to escape. Many ofthese vents operate in the same way as a pinwheel, in that they have aninterior portion that has curved blades similar to a fan. These curvedblades turn in a method to let heat escape and to assist in the intakeof cool air.

[0002] Many of these roof vents are spherical in shape and sit upon ashaft leading into the building''s inner structure. They are coveredwith a metal sphere that must be slotted in order for the heated air toescape. A problem exists with this methodology in that during the wintermonths, the vents will let cold air in, raising heating bills;essentially crating holes in the insulation systems of the buildings.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,743 issued to Izzi, on Aug. 23, 1983, shows acap for vent stack pipes. Izzi''s invention is unlike the presentinvention because Izzi''s invention is intended for open vent stackpipes, not roof vents, and is designed with a screw down the center ofthe cover, which would not affix to a spherical roof vent.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,254, issued to Sells on Oct. 8, 1991 shows acorrugated roof vent with an end cap. Sells'' invention is unlike thepresent invention because Sells'' invention is for ridge roof vents andis not intended for and would not function for spherical roof vents.Also Sells'' invention is intended to be a permanent affixation to theroof vent, instead of, as in the present invention, a seasonal cover.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,863 issued to Sells'' on Jul. 13, 1999, showsa roof ventilating device. Sells'' invention is unlike the presentinvention because Sells'' invention is intended to be adhered along theouter edge of the apex of the roof, and is thus shaped as a downwardpointing 60 degree angle. This design would not affix to spherical roofvents, and is intended to be a permanent attachment to the roof, asopposed to a seasonal cover.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,059 issued to Sells on Nov. 3, 1998 shows aventilating cap for the ridge of a roof. Sells'' invention is unlike thepresent invention because Sells'' invention is permanently affixed tothe roof, is intended for the ridge of the roof, and would not functionfor a spherical roof vent.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,582 issued to Sells'' on Aug. 23, 1994, showsa roof vent. Sells'' invention is curved in shape, but unlike thepresent invention, is intended to be raised above the ridge of the roof,does not completely cover the ridge roof vent, is not intended forspherical roof vents, and is a permanent affixation to the roof, insteadof a seasonal protection.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,393 issued to G {umlaut over (o )}dl on Jul.26, 1994, shows a ventilator cap. G {umlaut over (o )}dl''s invention isunlike the present invention because G {umlaut over (o )}dl''s inventionis intended to cover ridge roof vents, not spherical ones and ispermanent in nature.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,914 issued to Mejia on Jan. 21, 1992, shows aroof vent cap. Mejia''s invention is unlike the present inventionbecause Mejia''s cap is flat in shape, is intended to cover the shaftonly after the spherical vent has been removed from the shaft, insteadof covering the vent as a whole.

[0010] U.S. Patent No. issued to Waltz, et al on Jan. 1, 1985, shows adesign for a roof vent cap, that is unlike the present invention becauseWaltz''s invention can only be affixed to the vent after the sphericalvent has been detached, and would not fit over the spherical vent as awhole.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,760 issued to Jobson on May 15, 1990, shows aroof vent damper. Jobson''s invention is unlike the present inventionbecause Jobson''s invention is intended to be an interior coil springmechanism for a spherical roof vent for emergency closure of the vent asin the case of fire. The present invention does not require reworking ofinterior mechanisms of the vent and vent shaft, but instead acts asexterior insulation to close the vent.

[0012] As has been shown, a need has been established for a cover forspherical roof vents that is easy to adhere, and does not requireremoval of existing vent like covers already existent to be applied.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0013] The present invention is a vinyl cover for spherical roof vents.It is made of two identical pieces that fit around the shaft andspherical vent. The two pieces adhere together with conventional screwsand wing nuts eliminating the need for tools. The wing nut can be spuninto place with a user''s hand, and does not need to be screwed intoplace with a tool. The present invention is made of vinyl identical tosiding and awning that is present on many homes today. The vinylprotects the vent from debris, weather phenomena, and insulates theattic space in the winter to lower heating costs. The vinyl can befabricated in colors to match vinyl siding and trim existent on theresidences or buildings where installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, that showsthe interior of the left half of the cover.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a side view of the right half of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a side view of the left half of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a side view of the left and right halves as joined tocomplete the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The present invention is a roof vent cover for residential andcommercial property. The present invention is intended to cover thespherical roof vents that are conventional on many properties. Thesespherical roof vents are slotted for ventilation purposes, and thepresent invention is intended to keep heat from escaping through thevents in the winter.

[0019] In FIG. 1, the first member (10) of the present invention isshown as it would adhere to the spherical roof vent (not shown). Thefirst upper region (50) of the first member (10) of the presentinvention is constructed in a bulbous manner so that it can easilyconform around the spherical roof vent (not shown) The second member (FIG. 2, 5) and first member (10) fit together in a secure fashion atpoints indicated by holes (15) that hold conventional screws and wingnuts (not shown). The first upper bulbous portion (50) of the firstmember (10) of the present invention is made in a hemispherical fashionto insulate the spherical roof vent (not shown). The first lower tubularportion (45) of the first member (10) creates a secure wrap around theconventional vent shaft (not shown), and configures the presentinvention to the roof. The first upper bulbous region (50) of the firstmember (10) and the first lower tubular region (45) are created as onemold and are one continuous piece that make up the first member (10) andadhere to the roof in a weather-tight manner. Also shown in FIG. 1 is afirst edge (40) along the first upper bulbous region (50) and firstlower tubular portion (45). First edge (40) of first member (10) adheresin a watertight manner to second edge (FIG. 2, 30) by use of screws andwing nuts (not shown) that are pierced through holes (15) on both firstmember (10) and second member (5).

[0020] As exhibited in FIG. 2, a half view of the present invention.Along second edge (30) are holes (15, see FIG. 1) through which thescrews and wing nuts adhere second member (5) to first member (10). Asis shown, the second lower tubular region (20) and the second upperregion (25) create a cylindrical, former, and spherical, latter,connection around the roof vent. The second member (5) functions in thesame manner, and is of the exact same size, material and shape as thefirst member (10), with first member (5) and second member (10) workingtogether to form to whole present invention. The first lower tubularregion (45), second lower tubular region (20) , and the first upperregion (50) and the second upper region (25) are joined along first edge(40) and second edge (30), and fastened around the spherical roof vent(not shown) to create the weather tight protection.

[0021] As exhibited in FIG. 3, is the first member (10) of the presentinvention from a side perspective instead of an interior view as isshown in FIG. 1. Upon comparison of side view of second member (FIG. 2,5) and side view of first member (FIG. 3, 10), it can be seen that themembers fit together in a congruous manner to create the weather tightseal around the spherical roof vent (not shown) which is shown in detailin FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the first member (10) and second member (5) asconnected to one another along first edge (40) and second edge (30).Joined as shown the present invention is assembled fully.

[0022] The present invention is constructed of hard vinyl, not unlikesiding, that serves to shelter and insulate the roof vent..This vinylcan be molded to sizes and colors to cover different size spherical roofvents, and to match different colors of siding. The vinyl is durable innature to withstand various amounts of snow, rain or flying debris, formany winter or cold seasons.

[0023] The easy installment of the present invention facilitates thehome or building owner, in that no additional contractors need to behired to adhere and remove the present invention. No additional toolsare needed for installation, as a screwdriver or bolt tightener are notneeded for installation.

[0024] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limitedto the embodiments listed above, but includes any and all scopes listedin the following claims.

1. a roof vent cover for spherical roof vents, comprising: a firstmember having a first edge; a second member having a second edge, inremovable communication with said first region.
 2. A roof vent cover asin claim 1, wherein said first member and said second member are ofidentical dimensions.
 3. A roof vent cover as in claim 1, furthercomprising a first upper bulbous region on said first region.
 4. A roofvent cover as in claim 1, further comprising a second upper bulbousregion on said second region.
 5. A roof vent cover as in claim 1,further comprising a first lower tubular region on said first region. 6.A roof vent cover as in claim 1, further comprising holes along saidfirst edge of said first region.
 7. A roof vent cover as in claim 1,further comprising holes along said second edge of said second region.8. A roof vent cover as in claim 6, wherein said holes along said firstedge of said first region are the means of removable communication withsaid second edge on said second region.
 9. A roof vent cover as in claim6, further comprising screws in removable communication with said holesalong said first edge.
 10. A roof vent cover as in claim 9, furthercomprising wing nuts in removable communication with said screws.
 11. Aroof vent cover for spherical roof vents, comprising: a first regionhaving a first edge; a second region having a second edge, which is ofidentical dimensions to said first region; a set of holes along saidfirst edge of said first region; a set of holes along said second edgeof said second region; a set of screws in removable communication withsaid sets of holes on said first region, and said second region; and aset of wing nuts in removable communication with said set of screws forattaching said first region removably to said second region with use ofsaid sets of holes.